Edwaed weston



(No Model.)

E. WESTON.

CIRCUIT BREAKER.

No. 320,028. Patented June 16, 1885.

F fi '4'" F fldeg: I I i I Imenfor: j W

N. PETERS, Pholo'lilhographar, wnm yyyyy c,

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

EDIVARD \VESTON, OF NEWVARK, NE? JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNITED STATESELEOTRIO'LIGHTIN G COMPANY, OF NEVY YORK, N. Y.

CIRCUIT-BREAKER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 320,028, dated June 16,1885.

Application filed December 29, 1883. (N model.) I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD WEsroN, a subject of the Queen of GreatBritain, and a resident of Newark, in the county of Essex and State ofNew Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in CircuitBreakers, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadto the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the same.

The device forming the subject of this application is a switch orcirouit breaker, designed especially for use with main circuits or thoseover which powerful currents are conducted, though applicable to any andall cases 1 in which it is desired to make and break an electriccircuit. This deviceI haveillustrated in the accompanying drawings,which I will now refer to for a description of those features of noveltywhich my invention involves, and

which are hereinafter indicated and claimed.

Figure 1 is a perspective of the complete apparatus. Fig. 2 is avertical central section, and Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the severalfigures.

A is an insulating base recessed as shown in Fig. 2.

B is a metal support attached to base A; O, a spindle, journaled in saidsupport and in a 0 plate, D, secured to the base A.

E E are copper or brass contact-springs or other forms of terminalplate, secured to the under recessed side of base A and extending upthrough the same on either side of the spindle C. To the springs E areconnected the conductors F of an electric circuit.

G is a plate, block, or bar of good conducting metal, arranged to slidefreely on the spindle C, which passes through a hole drilled at its 40center. Ears H extend from the ends of the plate or conductor G, andthroughthem pass guide rods or pins K. Attached to the plate G or castin one piece with it is a double cam or cam-wheel, L, with notches a cutat the highest or widest points.

N is a shoulder or collar on the spindle O,

and P P projections, preferably small metal rollers, journaled on pinsextending from the same. A spiral spring S surrounds the spindle O, andforces the plate G and cam L up against the rollers P.

The operation of the device is as follows: If, when the parts are in theposition shown in Fig. 1, it is desired to complete the circuit, thespindle G is turned by a key, 0, until the rollers I are brought intothe notches a. By this means the plate G is forced downward between thesprings E, closing the electric circuit between them. \Vhen the circuitis to be broken, the key is turned; butthe instant the rollers arebrought over the edges of the notches a and onto the inclined faces ofthe cam the force of the spring S throws the spindle suddenly around,unless a special effort be made on the part of the operator to preventit, and at the same time drives the plate G up out of contact with thesprings E.

This form of circuit-breaker combines many advantages. The parts areeasily made and assembled in compact form, so as to occupy but littlespace. The key may be turned in either direction for making or breakingthe circuit, the separation of contact points on breaking the circuitbeing so sudden as to prevent the formation of an arc. V

The device may be used with any circuit, or devices connected therewith,as a means of making and breaking the circuit.

Y'Vhile I have adopted the best construction and arrangement of parts ofwhich I am at 30 present aware in illustration of my invention,

I do not regard the invention as specifically limited to the same, asthey may be varied in many particulars. Those features or elements,however, which I regard as essential are the contact-terminals and thespring actuated plate, together with any convenient form of key, byoperating which the plate is brought into contact with the terminals orpermitted to separate from them by the force of a spring. 9:

IVha-t I claim as my invention is- 1. The combination, withcontact-terminals, of a spring actuated plate, a rotary spindle, guidesfor preventing the rotation of the plate, and a cam and a projection orprojections on 5 said plate and spindle, whereby they engage with oneanother for the purpose of operating the parts to make or break thecircuit, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with contact-terminals, ice of a springactuatedplate and cam, a rotary spindle and guide rods passing through theplate, and rollers carried by the spindle for allel contact-terminals E,of the spring-actuengaging with the cam and imparting moveatedconducting-plate G and the pins K, parment to the plate, substantiallyasset forth. allel to the terminals for supporting and guid- 3. Thecombination, with contact-terminals, ing said plate, substantially asset forth. [5

5 of a spring-actuated plate and camwheel 1 In'testimony whereof I havehereunto set having notches out at its widest points, a romy hand this21st day of December, 1883. tary spindle and guide-rods passing throughthe plate, and rollers carried by the spindle for engaging with the cam,substantially as \Vitnesses: IO and for the purpose set forth. HENRY S.LOWE,

4. The combination, with substantially par- R. W. BLOEMEKE.

EDWVARD W'ESTON.

